School Briefs - Deep Run High School

By Max Dash, Special to the Citizen

11/09/12

Max Dash

Come Nov. 16, when the Deep Run High School boys’ basketball team opens its 2012-2013 season against Thomas Dale High School, 270 days will have passed since head coach Curt Kassab and his Wildcats have taken the floor. And coming off a stingy loss to Highland Springs in the Wildcats' first playoff appearance under Kassab, this year’s squad will be hungrier than ever.

Deep Run will be looking to build off last year’s 16-9 season – the school’s first winning season since Kassab took over as head coach two seasons ago. Last season also marked the first District and Regional tournament appearances in the Kassab era. “Our goal every year is to compete for a district title and a birth in the Regional Tournament,” Kassab said.

Repeating last year’s success will be no easy task, however, as Deep Run heads into the 2012-2013 season losing 10 players to graduation; most notably first-team All-District guard Parker Hull and second-team All-District center Lucas Dyer. This leaves a mere four returning varsity players for Kassab and company, and only one, junior guard Tim Branin, with extensive varsity game experience.

These key departures mean new faces will have to step up and lead this year’s team, a challenge that senior guard Nick Butz welcomes. “I’m looking forward to being a leader of the team,” Butz said, “I expect our team to be tough and have a great year.”

While most are ready to write them off, Kassab sees this team with loads of untapped potential. “We have some talented young players and it’s important that we develop these young kids,” Kassab said. “I think that is critical in building a good basketball program.”

With three-fourths of last year’s team gone, Deep Run will have to rely heavily on its renowned student section, the “Wildcat Wackos.”

The Deep Run basketball program has tons of momentum after last year’s playoff run; however, with the large amount of turnover, repeating last year’s success will be an immense challenge for coach Kassab and the Wildcats.

St. Joseph's Villa’s Flagler Housing & Homeless Services was one of three entities to earn the National Alliance to End Homelessness' Champion of Change Award. The awards were presented Nov. 17 during a ceremony at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Flagler completed its transition from an on-campus shelter to the community-based model of rapid rehousing in 2013, and it was one of the nation's first rapid re-housing service providers to be certified by NAEH. > Read more.

Richmond International Raceway's 13th annual Community Christmas tree lighting has been rescheduled from Dec. 6 to Monday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m., due to inclement weather expected on the original date.

Entertainment Dec. 12 will be provided by the Laburnum Elementary School choir and the Henrico High School Mighty Marching Warriors band. Tree decorations crafted by students from Laburnum Elementary School and L. Douglas Wilder Middle School will be on display. Hot chocolate and cookies will be supplied by the Henrico High School football boosters. > Read more.

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Lavender Fields Herb Farm, 11300 Winfrey Rd. in Glen Allen, will offer “Fresh Herbal Wreath,” the farm’s most popular class, at 10:30 a.m. Learn easy design techniques along with care tips to get the most out of your wreath. Glean useful information as you peruse the gardens to cut additional material to make your wreath pop. Cost is $30. To register, call 262-7167 or visit http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com.
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